426 Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals
B-4 BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TIER 2:
PROTOCOL FOR DESENSITIZATION AND
COUNTERCONDITIONING USING
GRADUAL DEPARTURES
Dogs with separation anxiety often begin to experience anxiety at
the first cue that you will be leaving the dog's sight. The first set of
protocols concentrated on uncoupling cues for departure from the
actual event and on reinforcing general relaxation and
responsiveness to your vocal cues (see "Protocol for Deference:
Basic Program" and "Protocol for Relaxation: Behavior
Modification Tier 1"). This program concentrates on desensitizing
and counterconditioning the dog to being left alone for gradually
longer periods.
It is not sufficient that the dog does not bark or destroy
something when left alone. The goal of this program is to reinforce relaxation and behaviors associated with actually feeling
calm when left alone (i.e., happy looks, lowered heart rates, and
slowed respiration/. Once again, go slowly. It is particularly
important that dogs with separation anxiety do not become
stressed or made more anxious during this protocol. Speed is not a
measure of success-behavior is. Remember to shape the dog's
behavior by rewarding even the smallest, incremental hint that the
dog is more relaxed than previously. If at any time you notice
outward physical and physiological signs that the dog is becoming
anxious while working, break the suite of tasks on which you were
working into smaller components. Outward physical and physiological signs of stress or anxiety can include panting, increased
heart rate, lowered head with ears retracted, lips pulled back
horizontally, dilated pupils, "redder" eyes with or without
movement, shaking or shivering, whimpering or
Day 1: Dog's Task
whining, and blowing in and out of "cheeks." If you see any of
these signs, the dog is too distressed to effectively learn to change
its behavior. Backtrack and return to a level at which the dog does
not react inappropriately and can respond happily. Break the tasks
with which the dog had difficulty into smaller components. All of
the following tasks can be broken into smaller components.
Everyone in the family who is involved with the dog must be able
to successfully complete the program.
When the program is completed in one calm area, it must be
expanded to other areas: other rooms, indoors or outside, inside a
fence or outside, and so on.
Remember to use the dog's behavior to help you decide how to
adapt the protocol for the dog's specific needs. If the dog is
perfectly calm when left in a car but is distressed when someone
leaves, start by practicing the tasks in the car. If the dog is calm
when all but one person leaves the house but panics when that
person leaves, start by practicing with departures involving people
for whom the dog does not panic. If the dog appears to keep a
good calendar and does not become distressed when people leave
on weekends, start by practicing the tasks in the protocol
repeatedly on weekends.
Remember to shape the dog's behavior by rewarding even the
smallest signal that it is more relaxed with each succeeding task.
Be patient. Do not become angry. Do not punish the dog. Stop and
return later if you are feeling stressed.
A sample map/floor plan is provided that illustrates a physical
layout that works well for these types of protocols.
NOTE: As usual, for the following tasks always remember to
return to the dog and reward it after completing the task.
Comments about response or difficulty
Sit for 5 seconds Sit for 10 seconds Sit for 20 seconds Sit while you take one
step back Sit while you take two steps back Sit while you take one step to the
side Sit while you take two steps to the side Sit while you take three steps back
Sit while you take three steps to the side Sit while you walk around the dog Sit
while you take 10 steps backward and return Sit while you go through the door
or the entranceway and return Sit while you open the door or go into the
entrance for 10 seconds and return Sit while you take one step to the side Sit
while you take two steps to the side Sit while you take three steps back Sit
while you take three steps to the side Sit while you walk around the dog
Day 2: Dog's Task
Sit for 20 seconds
Sit while you take 10 steps backward and return
Sit while you go through the door or the entranceway and return
Sit while you open the door or go into the entrance for 10 seconds and return Sit for 30 seconds Sit while you disappear from view for 5
seconds and return Sit while you go through the door or the
entranceway and return Sit while you touch a doorknob Sit while you
rattle a doorknob Sit while you turn the doorknob, but do not open the
door
Comments about response or difficulty
11
Sit while you touch a doorknob
Sit while you rattle a doorknob
Sit while you turn the doorknob, but do not open the door
Sit while you open the door a few centimeters and quickly close it
Sit while you open the door 0.25 meters and then close it
Sit while you open the door 0.5 meters and then close it
Sit while you walk back 10 steps
Sit while you rattle the doorknob
Sit while you open the door 0.5 meters and then close it
Sit while you open the door 1 meter and then close it
Sit while you step into the door but remain in view
Day 3: Dog's Task Sit while you turn the doorknob, but do not open the door
Sit while you open the door a few centimeters and quickly close it Sit while you
open the door 0.5 meters and then close it Sit while you open the door 1 meter
and then close it Sit while you step into the door but remain in view Sit while
you step into the doorway Sit while you step through the doorway Sit while you
step through the doorway, close the door just slightly, and immediately return
Sit while you step through the doorway, close the door, wait 5 seconds, and
return Sit while you disappear from view for 10 seconds and return Sit while
you disappear from view for 15 seconds and return Sit for 10 seconds Sit for 15
seconds Sit while you disappear from view for 15 seconds and return Sit while
you step through the doorway, close the door, wait 10 seconds, and return Sit
while you step through the doorway, close the door, wait 20 seconds, and return
Sit while you go out of the door and firmly close it Sit for 20 seconds Sit for 10
seconds Sit for 5 seconds
Comments about response or difficulty
Day 4: Dog's Task Sit for 10 seconds Sit while
you go out of the door and close it: and wait 5
seconds and wait 30 seconds and wait 45
seconds and wait 90 seconds and wait 2
minutes Sit while you go out of the door and
close it: and wait 3 minutes and wait 4 minutes
and wait 5 minutes and wait 7 minutes and wait
10 minutes
Comments about response or difficulty
Continue as above until the dog can sit quietly and relax while
left alone for 30 minutes. Generally, if the dog can be relaxed
while left alone for 30 minutes, the dog will be able to relax when
left alone for normal durations, prohibiting any startling or
disastrous consequences. This means that if your dog is afraid of
thunderstorms and one occurs while it is left alone, relapse is
possible. Treat all of the problems.
For Future Repetitions
• Repeat all tasks in different locations.
• Repeat all tasks with all family members.
• Repeat all tasks with only every second or third task being
rewarded with a treat. (Remember praise!
• Repeat with only intermittent treat reinforcement. (Remember praise!
Antianxiety medications may help some dogs that otherwise
are unable to succeed in this program. Remember, if it is decided
that medication could benefit your dog, you need to use it in
addition to the behavior modification, not instead of it.1
From K. Overall, Clinical Behavior Medicine for Small Animals, with permission.
Veterinary Care Center at Goldens Bridge 232-8800